Flat circuit connector with magnetized actuator

ABSTRACT

An electrical connector is provided for terminating a flat electrical circuit. The connector includes a dielectric housing having an opening for receiving an end of a flat circuit. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and have contact portions exposed in the opening. An actuator is movably mounted on the housing for movement between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the actuator allows the flat circuit to be inserted into the opening. In the closed position, the actuator biases the flat circuit against the contact portions of the terminals. The actuator is magnetized, and a second magnetic component is mounted for drawing the actuator to its closed position due to magnetic attraction forces between the magnetized actuator and the magnetic component.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectorsand, particularly, to a connector for terminating a flat circuit, suchas a flat flexible circuit, a flexible printed circuit or other flatelectrical cable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of electrical connectors have been designed forterminating flat cables or circuits, such as flat flexible cables,flexible printed circuits or the like. A typical connector, generallydesignated 20, is illustrated in FIGS. 15-17 according to the prior art.Connector 20 includes an elongated dielectric housing 22 which mounts aplurality of terminals 24 arranged in a side-by-side array. Theterminals are generally parallel to each other and are spaced laterallyalong an elongated circuit-receiving opening 26 into which a flatcircuit 28 is inserted in the direction of arrow “A”. Housing 22 may beadapted for mounting on a printed circuit board 30 (FIG. 17), and a pairof metal fitting nails 32 may be used for mounting the connector to thecircuit board, such as by soldering the fitting nails to appropriatemounting pads on the board. Terminals 24 have tail portions 24 a forconnection, as by soldering, to appropriate circuit traces on thecircuit board.

An elongated actuator 34 is pivotally mounted on housing 22 for pivotalmovement between an open position shown in FIG. 15 and a closed positionshown in FIGS. 16 and 17. In the open position, the actuator allows flatcircuit 28 to be inserted into opening 26. In the closed position, theactuator biases the flat circuit against contact portions of terminals24 exposed in the opening.

One of the problems with elongated flat circuit connectors 20 asdescribed above and shown in FIGS. 15-17 is the inability to providesufficient biasing forces on the flat circuit when the actuator is movedto its closed position. This problem is magnified when the number ofterminals increases which, thereby, increases the length of theconnector and the resulting length of the actuator. The longer theactuator, the more prone the actuator is to bow between its oppositeends and not apply sufficient pressure to the flat circuit.

A simple solution to the problem of providing sufficient biasing forcesby the actuator, would be to simply increase the thickness of theactuator so that it is sufficiently robust to apply adequate pressures.However, with the increasing miniaturization of electronic devices inwhich such flat circuit connectors are used, such miniaturizationrequires a low profile connector, and increasing the thickness of theactuator undesirably increases the height of the connector. The presentinvention is directed to solving these problems or dilemmas by providinga low profile actuator which is magnetized and is drawn or pulledagainst the flat circuit by magnetic means mounted on the connector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improvedelectrical connector for terminating a flat electrical circuit and toincrease the biasing forces of an actuator of the connector interminating the flat circuit.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector includes adielectric housing having an opening for receiving an end of a flatcircuit. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing in aside-by-side array. The terminals have contact portions spaced laterallyalong the opening. An actuator is movably mounted on the housing formovement between an open position and a closed position. In the openposition, the flat circuit is allowed to be inserted into the opening.In the closed position, the actuator biases the flat circuit against thecontact portions of the terminals. The actuator is provided with firstmagnetic means. Second magnetic means are provided for drawing themagnetized actuator to its closed position due to the magneticattraction forces between the first and second magnetic means.

The invention contemplates various systems for magnetizing the actuator,i.e. providing the first magnetic means thereon. For instance, theactuator may be at least partially molded of a magnetic material, or theactuator may be molded substantially entirely of the magnetic material.The magnetic material may be provided by a matrix having magneticparticles, such as ferrite particles, embedded therein. The actuatoralso my be magnetized by providing a permanent magnet thereon. Forinstance, with the actuator being elongated, the permanent may bedisposed generally centrally between opposite ends of the elongatedactuator.

The invention contemplates that the second magnetic means can beprovided in a variety of manners. For instance, the second magneticmeans may be disposed on the housing for drawing or pulling the actuatordownwardly against the flat circuit. The second magnetic means may beprovided by at least one permanent magnet affixed to the housing.Alternatively, the housing may be molded partially or entirely ofmagnetic material such as a matrix having magnetic particles, such asferrite particles, embedded therein.

Another system for providing the second magnetic means is available whenthe connector is mounted on a printed circuit board. The second magneticmeans may be provided on the circuit board, itself. The second magneticmeans may comprise a molded magnetic material. In addition, the circuitboard may be laminated with at least one magnetic layer.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, togetherwith its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood byreference to the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify likeelements in the figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flat circuit connector according tothe invention, with the actuator in its open position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, with the actuator in itsclosed position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section, taken generally along line 3-3of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the connector;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the connector, showing in phantomlines the configuration of the actuator if the concepts of the inventionare not used;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the connector, looking at theright-hand side of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6, with a flat circuit insertedinto the connector;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a connector according to a secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a connector according to a thirdembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a connector according to a fourthembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a connector according to a fifthembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a connector according to a sixthembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a connector according to a seventhembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a fragmented sectional view illustrating a spring contactused as a resilient conductive member;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a connector according to the prior artand described in the “Background” above;

FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of the prior art connector; and

FIG. 17 is a right-hand side elevational view of the prior artconnector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to a firstembodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-7, the invention isembodied in an electrical connector, generally designated 40, forterminating a flat electrical circuit 42. The connector includes anelongated dielectric housing 44 which, at least in part, defines anelongated opening 46 for receiving an end 42 a of flat circuit 42. Thehousing defines a front mating end 44 a of the connector and a rearterminating end 44 b. As seen in FIG. 3, housing 44 has a plurality ofterminal-receiving passages 48 for receiving a plurality of terminals50. Each terminal includes a mounting portion 50 a which is press-fitinto a respective passage in the direction of arrow “B”. A contact arm50 b extends forwardly and defines a contact portion 50 c at a distalend of the arm, with the contact portion projecting upwardly intocircuit-receiving opening 56. A tail portion 50 d of each terminalprojects rearwardly beyond rear terminating end 44 b of the housing forconnection, as by soldering, to a printed circuit board 52 on which theconnector is mounted.

A fitting nail plate 54 (FIG. 1) is mounted along the front mating end44 a of the connector, below circuit-receiving opening 46. The fittingnail is fabricated of metal material and may be connected, as bysoldering, to mounting pads on the printed circuit board. Alternatively,a pair of mounting ears 54 may project from opposite ends of the fittingnail plate for securing, as by appropriate fasteners, to the printedcircuit board. The fitting nail plate is formed with a pair of sidewalls 54 b at opposite ends of a bottom wall 54 c. According to themagnetic concepts of the invention, fitting nail plate 54 is fabricatedof a magnetic material such as iron in order to provide a magneticmeans-running along the length of circuit-receiving opening 46 generallybelow contact portions 50 c of terminals 50, but at least below flatcircuit 42 when the circuit is inserted into the connector.

An elongated actuator, generally designated 60, is movably mounted onhousing 44 for movement between an open position shown in FIG. 1 and aclosed position shown in FIGS. 2-6. In the open position of FIG. 1, flatcircuit 42 is allowed to be inserted into opening 46 in the direction ofarrow “A”. In the closed position of the actuator, the actuator biasesthe flat circuit downwardly in the direction of arrow “C” (FIG. 7)against contact portions 50 c of terminals 50. The flat circuit hasconductors (not shown) on the bottom surface thereof for engagingcontact portions 50 c of the terminals. The actuator has a pair ofbearing arms 60 a at opposite ends of a generally rectangular bodyportion 60 b. The bearing arms are pivotally mounted to housing 44, asat 62, for pivotal movement of the actuator between its open and closedpositions. The pivot at 62 is provided by a keyhole-shaped opening forreceiving an oblong pivot stub shaft 64 projecting outwardly fromopposite sides of the housing. The front corners of the actuator havedownwardly extending guide tabs 60 c which slidingly engage inside sidewalls 54 b of fitting nail plate 54 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 5. When theactuator is pivoted downwardly to its closed position, the actuator canbe pushed inwardly in the direction of arrow “A”. This causes the oblongpivot stub shafts to move into the narrow portions of keyhole-shapedopenings 62 to latch the actuator in its closed position.

According to the invention, actuator 60 is provided with first magneticmeans whereby the actuator is drawn downwardly to its closed positiondue to magnetic attraction forces from a second magnetic means mountedsomewhere below the actuator. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, fittingnail plate 54 which, as stated above, preferably is fabricated of ironmaterial, forms a second magnetic means which is effective to draw themagnetized actuator downwardly against flat circuit 42 due to themagnetic attraction forces between the magnetic actuator and themagnetic fitting nail plate.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-7, actuator 6 is formed as a permanentmagnet that is produced by molding magnetic particles, such as ferritepowder 65, in a matrix. The actuator is molded in the shape shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 and is then magnetized.

FIG. 5 simply shows in phantom, as at 66, how actuator 60 might bow ifit is fabricated as thin as rectangular body portion 60 b of actuator 60is shown in FIG. 5. However, with the entire actuator being magnetized,the very thin body portion of the actuator is drawn tightly onto the topof the flat circuit and, thereby, provides an extremely low profile forconnector 40 as is clearly shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the invention wherein actuator 60 issubstantially molded of a dielectric material such as plastic or thelike. However, a permanent magnetic plate 70 is insert-molded in body 60b of the actuator generally centrally between opposite ends or sidesthereof. This permanent magnet plate forms the first magnetic means forthe actuator which is effective to draw the actuator down onto the flatcircuit.

FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the invention wherein a permanentmagnet plate 72 is mounted on top of bottom plate 54 c of fitting nailplate 54. With this embodiment, a magnetic attractive force is inducedto mutually attract magnetized actuator 60 and permanent magnet plate72. With the permanent magnet plate being fixed, the magnetic forcesdraw the actuator downwardly to its closed position.

FIG. 10 show a fourth embodiment of the invention wherein the fittingnail plate is replaced by an additional bottom wall 74 of the housing toextend forwardly below the circuit-receiving opening 46. This additionalbottom wall may be fabricated of a plastic material having magneticparticles 65 embedded therein, or the additional bottom wall may beprovided as a permanent magnet plate. With such alternatives, apermanent magnetized actuator can be replaced with some means comprisinga ferromagnetic substance such as an iron plate. Thus, magneticattractive forces are induced between the iron actuator and thepermanent magnet plate 74.

FIG. 11 shows a fifth embodiment of the invention wherein printedcircuit board 52 is laminated or of a laminar construction.Specifically, an iron layer 76 is sandwiched between a pair ofdielectric layers 78. Iron layer 76 is of a ferromagnetic substance.Therefore, if actuator 60 is fabricated as a permanent magnet asdescribed in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the magnetized actuator isdrawn downwardly by the magnetic attraction forces with the iron plateembedded in the printed circuit board. In the embodiment of FIG. 11,terminals 50 of the previous embodiments may be replaced with aplurality of terminal plugs 80 fixed within holes 82 in a wall 84 ofhousing 44. The terminal plugs are fabricated of conductive rubbermaterial and electrically connect the conductors on the bottom of theflat circuit with appropriate circuit traces on the top of printedcircuit board 50.

FIG. 12 shows a sixth embodiment of the invention, wherein printedcircuit board 80, again, is laminated with a bottom layer 86 of magneticmaterial, such as iron.

FIG. 13 shows a seventh embodiment of the invention wherein a permanentmagnet plate 88 is mounted on or in circuit board 52. Plate 82 may beformed from some ferromagnetic substance such as an iron plate.

FIG. 14 simply shows an alternative configuration to replace theterminal plugs 80 described above in relation to the embodiment of FIG.11 and also shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 12 and 13. According tothe embodiment of FIG. 14, a plurality of spring terminals 90 aredisposed in holes 82 in wall 84 of the housing. These spring terminalsare effective to electrically connect the conductors on the bottom ofthe flat circuit with the circuit traces on the top of printed circuitboard 52.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or centralcharacteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments,therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details givenherein.

1. An electrical connector (40) for terminating a flat electricalcircuit (42), comprising: a dielectric housing (44) having an opening(46) for receiving an end (42 a) of a flat circuit (42); a plurality ofterminals (40) mounted on the housing in a side-by-side array and havingcontact portions (50 c) spaced laterally along the opening; an actuator(60) movably mounted on the housing for movement between an openposition allowing the flat circuit to be inserted into said opening anda closed position biasing the flat circuit against the contact portionsof the terminals, the actuator being provided with first magnetic means(65,70); and second magnetic means (54 c,72,74,76,86,88) mounted fordrawing the actuator to its closed position due to magnetic attractionforces between the first and second magnetic means.
 2. The electricalconnector of claim 1 wherein said actuator (60) is at last partiallymolded of a magnetic material (65) to provide said first magnetic means.3. The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein said magnetic material ofthe actuator comprises a matrix having magnetic particles (65) embeddedtherein.
 4. The electrical connector of claim 3 wherein said magneticparticles (65) comprise ferrite particles.
 5. The electrical connectorof claim 3 wherein said actuator (60) is molded substantially entirelyof said magnetic material (65).
 6. The electrical connector of claim 1wherein said first magnetic means of the actuator (60) comprises apermanent magnet (70) disposed thereon.
 7. The electrical connector ofclaim 6 wherein said actuator (60) is elongated and said permanentmagnet (70) is disposed generally centrally between opposite ends of theelongated actuator.
 8. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein saidsecond magnetic means (54 c,72,74) is disposed on the housing.
 9. Theelectrical connector of claim 8 wherein said second magnetic meanscomprise at least one permanent magnet (54 c,72,74).
 10. The electricalconnector of claim 8 wherein said second magnetic means comprise atleast a portion (74) of the housing being molded of magnetic material.11. The electrical connector of claim 10 wherein said magnetic materialcomprises a matrix having magnetic particles (65) embedded thereon. 12.The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein said magnetic particles(65) comprise ferrite particles.
 13. The electrical connector of claim11 wherein said housing is molded substantially entirely of saidmagnetic material (65).
 14. The electrical connector of claim 1 whensaid housing (44) is adapted for mounting on a circuit board (52), andsaid second magnetic means (76,86,88) is provided on the circuit board.15. The electrical connector of claim 14 wherein said second magneticmeans comprise at least one permanent magnet (76,86,88).
 16. Theelectrical connector of claim 14 wherein said second magnetic meanscomprises a molded magnetic material (65).
 17. The electrical connectorof claim 16 wherein said magnetic material comprises a matrix havingmagnetic particles (65) embedded thereon.
 18. The electrical connectorof claim 17 wherein said magnetic particles (65) comprise ferriteparticles.
 19. The electrical connector of claim 14 wherein said circuitboard (52) is laminated with at least one magnetic layer (76,86).
 20. Anelectrical connector (40) for terminating a flat electrical circuit(42), comprising: a dielectric housing (44) having a circuit-receivingopening (46) for receiving an end (42 a) of a flat circuit (42); aplurality of terminals (50) mounted on the housing in a side-by-sidearray and having contact portions (50 c) spaced laterally along theopening; an actuator (60) movably mounted on the housing for movementbetween an open position allowing the flat circuit to be inserted intosaid opening and a closed position biasing the flat circuit against thecontact portions of the terminals; first magnetic means (65,70) mountedon the actuator (60) above said circuit-receiving opening (46); andsecond magnetic means (52 c,72,74) on the housing (44) below saidcircuit-receiving opening (46), whereby the first and second magneticmeans are effective due to magnetic attraction forces to draw theactuator (60) to its closed position.
 21. The electrical connector ofclaim 20 wherein said actuator (60) is at least partially molded of amagnetic material (65) to provide said first magnetic means, said secondmagnetic means comprising at least a portion of the housing (44) beingmolded of magnetic material (65).
 22. The electrical connector of claim20 wherein at least one of said first and second magnetic meanscomprises a permanent magnet (65,70,54 c,72,74).
 23. The electricalconnector of claim 20 wherein at least one of said first and secondmagnetic means comprises a matrix having magnetic particles (65)embedded therein.